Spoils sifting and ground surface preparation apparatuses and systems

Abstract

A work machine includes a chassis and a lift mechanism. A tow-behind attachment is positioned rearward of the work machine and includes a frame assembly, a spoils rake assembly, and a cage roller assembly. The frame assembly includes a forward portion and a rearward portion. The forward portion is coupled with the chassis and the lift mechanism. The rearward portion is coupled with and moveable to a plurality of positions relative to the forward portion independent of movement of the forward portion relative to the chassis. The spoils rake assembly is coupled with and extends downward from the rearward portion at a position forward of the cage roller assembly and is moveable vertically relative to the rearward portion. The cage roller assembly is coupled with and extends downward from the rearward portion of the frame assembly at a location rearward of the spoils rake assembly.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a self-propelled work machine including a chassis, a plurality of ground-contacting members rotatably coupled with the chassis, and a lift mechanism adjustably coupled with the chassis and being adjustable to a plurality of vertical positions relative to the chassis; and   a tow-behind attachment positioned rearward of the work machine and including a frame assembly, a spoils rake assembly, and a cage roller assembly,   
       the frame assembly including a forward portion and a rearward portion, 
       the forward portion being coupled with the chassis and coupled with and moveable by the lift mechanism to a plurality of positions relative to the chassis,
 the rearward portion being coupled with and moveable to a plurality of positions relative to the forward portion independent of movement of the forward portion relative to the chassis, 
 
       the spoils rake assembly being coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion at a position forward of the cage roller assembly and being moveable vertically relative to the rearward portion, and
 the cage roller assembly being rotatably coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion of the frame assembly at a location rearward of the spoils rake assembly; 
 wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a plurality of pivot arms coupled with the rearward portion at a respective plurality of rake joints and extending rearward from the plurality of rake joints, and a ground-engaging rake body coupled with and extending downward from the plurality of pivot arms. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a first spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion and a second spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion, the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake being movable relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are rotatable to a plurality of Z-axis positions relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are tiltable to a plurality of angles relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a pitch of the ground-engaging rake body is one of increased and decreased in response to movement of the rearward portion relative to the forward portion independent of movement of the forward portion relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a limiter arm extending rearward of the ground-engaging rake body, the spoils rake assembly being moveable relative to the rearward portion from a lowered position in which the limiter arm is spaced apart from an upper stop to a raised position in which the limiter arm contacts the upper stop. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly includes a top link extending between and coupled with the forward portion and the rearward portion, the top link being extendable and retractable to vary the rotational position of the rearward portion relative to the forward portion. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the forward portion includes a first linking arm, a second linking arm, and a beam coupled with and extending between the first linking arm and the second linking arm, the first linking arm being coupled with the chassis at a first joint and moveable relative to the chassis about the first joint, the second linking arm being coupled with the chassis at a second joint and moveable relative to the chassis about the second joint. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rearward portion is coupled with the forward portion at a third joint and a fourth joint and moveable relative to the forward portion about the third joint and the fourth joint. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a tow-behind attachment including a frame assembly, a spoils rake assembly, and a cage roller assembly,   the frame assembly including a forward portion and a rearward portion,   the forward portion including a plurality of joint portions configured to rotatably couple with complimentary joint portions of a work machine,   the rearward portion being coupled with and moveable to a plurality of positions relative to the forward portion independent of movement of the forward portion relative to the complimentary joint portions,   the spoils rake assembly being coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion at a position forward of the cage roller assembly and being moveable vertically relative to the rearward portion, and   the cage roller assembly being rotatably coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion of the frame assembly at a location rearward of the spoils rake assembly;   wherein forward portion includes a first joint portion configured to mate with a first complimentary joint portion to form a first joint permitting rotation of the forward portion relative to the first complimentary joint portion, a second joint portion configured to mate with a second complimentary joint portion to form a second joint permitting rotation of the forward portion relative to the second complimentary joint portion, and a coupling positioned rearward of the first joint portion and the second joint portion and configured to couple with a lift mechanism and to receive lifting force effective to rotate the forward portion relative to the first complimentary joint portion and the second complimentary joint portion.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a first spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion and a second spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion, the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake being movable relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are rotatable to a plurality of Z-axis positions relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are tiltable to a plurality of angles relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a plurality of pivot arms coupled with the rearward portion at a respective plurality of rake joints and extending rearward from the plurality of rake joints, and a ground-engaging rake body coupled with and extending downward from the plurality of pivot arms. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the apparatus is coupled with a self-propelled work machine. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein including a chassis, a plurality of ground-contacting members rotatably coupled with the chassis, and a lift mechanism adjustably coupled with the chassis and being adjustable to a plurality of vertical positions relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus comprising:
 a self-propelled work machine including a chassis, a plurality of ground-contacting members rotatably coupled with the chassis, and a lift mechanism adjustably coupled with the chassis and being adjustable to a plurality of vertical positions relative to the chassis; and   a tow-behind attachment positioned rearward of the work machine and including a frame assembly, a spoils rake assembly, and a cage roller assembly,   
       the frame assembly including a forward portion and a rearward portion, 
       the forward portion being coupled with the chassis and coupled with and moveable by the lift mechanism to a plurality of positions relative to the chassis,
 the rearward portion being coupled with and moveable to a plurality of positions relative to the forward portion independent of movement of the forward portion relative to the chassis, 
 
       the spoils rake assembly being coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion at a position forward of the cage roller assembly and being moveable vertically relative to the rearward portion, and
 the cage roller assembly being rotatably coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion of the frame assembly at a location rearward of the spoils rake assembly; 
 wherein the frame assembly includes a top link extending between and coupled with the forward portion and the rearward portion, the top link being extendable and retractable to vary the rotational position of the rearward portion relative to the forward portion. 
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a first spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion and a second spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion, the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake being movable relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are rotatable to a plurality of Z-axis positions relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are tiltable to a plurality of angles relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus comprising:
 a self-propelled work machine including a chassis, a plurality of ground-contacting members rotatably coupled with the chassis, and a lift mechanism adjustably coupled with the chassis and being adjustable to a plurality of vertical positions relative to the chassis; and   a tow-behind attachment positioned rearward of the work machine and including a frame assembly, a spoils rake assembly, and a cage roller assembly,   
       the frame assembly including a forward portion and a rearward portion, 
       the forward portion being coupled with the chassis and coupled with and moveable by the lift mechanism to a plurality of positions relative to the chassis,
 the rearward portion being coupled with and moveable to a plurality of positions relative to the forward portion independent of movement of the forward portion relative to the chassis, 
 
       the spoils rake assembly being coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion at a position forward of the cage roller assembly and being moveable vertically relative to the rearward portion, and
 the cage roller assembly being rotatably coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion of the frame assembly at a location rearward of the spoils rake assembly; 
 wherein the forward portion includes a first linking arm, a second linking arm, and a beam coupled with and extending between the first linking arm and the second linking arm, the first linking arm being coupled with the chassis at a first joint and moveable relative to the chassis about the first joint, the second linking arm being coupled with the chassis at a second joint and moveable relative to the chassis about the second joint. 
 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a first spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion and a second spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion, the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake being movable relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are rotatable to a plurality of Z-axis positions relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are tiltable to a plurality of angles relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus comprising:
 a self-propelled work machine including a chassis, a plurality of ground-contacting members rotatably coupled with the chassis, and a lift mechanism adjustably coupled with the chassis and being adjustable to a plurality of vertical positions relative to the chassis; and   a tow-behind attachment positioned rearward of the work machine and including a frame assembly, a spoils rake assembly, and a cage roller assembly,   
       the frame assembly including a forward portion and a rearward portion, 
       the forward portion being coupled with the chassis and coupled with and moveable by the lift mechanism to a plurality of positions relative to the chassis,
 the rearward portion being coupled with and moveable to a plurality of positions relative to the forward portion independent of movement of the forward portion relative to the chassis, 
 
       the spoils rake assembly being coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion at a position forward of the cage roller assembly and being moveable vertically relative to the rearward portion, and
 the cage roller assembly being rotatably coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion of the frame assembly at a location rearward of the spoils rake assembly; 
 wherein the rearward portion is coupled with the forward portion at a third joint and a fourth joint and moveable relative to the forward portion about the third joint and the fourth joint. 
 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a first spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion and a second spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion, the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake being movable relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are rotatable to a plurality of Z-axis positions relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are tiltable to a plurality of angles relative to the rearward portion independently of one another. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus comprising:
 a self-propelled work machine including a chassis, a plurality of ground-contacting members rotatably coupled with the chassis, and a lift mechanism adjustably coupled with the chassis and being adjustable to a plurality of vertical positions relative to the chassis; and   a tow-behind attachment positioned rearward of the work machine and including a frame assembly, a spoils rake assembly, and a cage roller assembly,   
       the frame assembly including a forward portion and a rearward portion, 
       the forward portion being coupled with the chassis and coupled with and moveable by the lift mechanism to a plurality of positions relative to the chassis,
 the rearward portion being coupled with and moveable to a plurality of positions relative to the forward portion independent of movement of the forward portion relative to the chassis, 
 
       the spoils rake assembly being coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion at a position forward of the cage roller assembly and being moveable vertically relative to the rearward portion, and
 the cage roller assembly being rotatably coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion of the frame assembly at a location rearward of the spoils rake assembly; 
 wherein the spoils rake assembly includes a first spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion and a second spoils rake coupled with and extending downward from the rearward portion, the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake being movable relative to the rearward portion independently of one another, and 
 wherein at least one of: (a) the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are rotatable to a plurality of Z-axis positions relative to the rearward portion independently of one another, and (b) the first spoils rake and the second spoils rake are tiltable to a plurality of angles relative to the rearward portion independently of one another.